T-Mobile Spreads Their "4G-Like" HSPA+ Mobile Broadband Services

T-Mobile USA has taken some heat recently for suggesting that their HSPA+ network offers "4G speeds" when it's really only 3.5G, but that's not stopping the carrier from expanding as hard as they can in order to prove the pundits wrong. Recently, the company announced the continued expansion of its mobile broadband network to more than 85 million Americans. And without any hesitation, T-Mobile suggests that it's "the most pervasive network to offer 4G speeds in the country."

Regardless of the details, there's no doubt that T-Mobile's mobile broadband network is certainly fast, and now they're on track to deliver HSPA+ speeds in 100 major metropolitan areas with backhaul in place, covering 185 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year. With the recent update, HSPA+ network service is available in nearly 50 major metropolitan areas across the country, with exact locales mentioned in the full press release below.

In addition, 16 of T-Mobile’s current 3G devices, including more than a dozen smartphones can benefit from enhanced speeds when they’re on the super-fast HSPA+ network in all of these major metropolitan areas, including the newest smartphone available from T-Mobile (the Samsung Vibrant). Also, T-Mobile is promising more details to come on a forthcoming HSPA+-capable smartphone that'll ship later in the summer.

In related news, T-Mobile is also introducing the webConnect Rocket 2.0 USB Laptop Stick, an updated form factor of its first HSPA+-capable device. The new version has a rotating swivel USB form factor, but other than that it offers the same performance as the prior version.

T-Mobile® HSPA+ Network Now Delivers Broadest Reach of 4G Speeds in U.S.

Customers also will benefit from speed boosts on 16 of T-Mobile’s available 3G devices and expanded availability of mobile broadband products in nearly 50 markets

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the continued expansion of its super-fast mobile broadband network to more than 85 million Americans—the most pervasive network to offer 4G speeds1 in the country. T-Mobile® is on track to deliver HSPA+ speeds in 100 major metropolitan areas with backhaul in place, covering 185 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year.

“T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network now offers 4G speeds to more people than any other wireless network in the country”

Now HSPA+ network service is available in nearly 50 major metropolitan areas across the country, with the newest additions including Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; and Wichita, Kan. In addition, T-Mobile has expanded coverage in cities in previously announced metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. 4G speeds are now available for customers in Alexandria, McLean and Reston, Va.; Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Long Beach, and Ontario, CA; Annapolis, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Md.; and Asheville and Hickory, N.C.

In addition, 16 of T-Mobile’s current 3G devices, including more than a dozen smartphones,2 can benefit from enhanced speeds when they’re on the super-fast HSPA+ network in all of these major metropolitan areas, including the newest smartphone available from T-Mobile—the Samsung Vibrant. And later this summer, T-Mobile will unveil its first HSPA+-capable smartphone. More details will be available in the coming weeks.

“T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network now offers 4G speeds to more people than any other wireless network in the country,” said Neville Ray, chief network officer for T-Mobile USA. “The aggressive pace of our HSPA+ network rollout means our customers can enjoy a better mobile broadband experience on more devices in more places today—but we’re not done yet. Our first HSPA+ smartphone is coming soon and our footprint will double between now and the end of the year.”

Complementing the network expansion is wider availability of the T-Mobile® webConnect® broadband products in T-Mobile retail stores in all HSPA+ areas including the webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick, the first HSPA+-capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier and the Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 with T-Mobile webConnect, T-Mobile’s first netbook.

Also beginning today, T-Mobile is introducing the webConnect Rocket 2.0 USB Laptop Stick, an updated form factor of its first HSPA+-capable device. Featuring a new rotating swivel USB form factor, the webConnect Rocket 2.0 is designed to deliver the same home broadband experience on the go as its predecessor, so customers can surf the Web, download large files or watch video from a laptop anytime on-the-go with a blazing-fast connection. The webConnect Rocket 2.0 enables customers to take full advantage of T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network in areas where the service is available—delivering 4G speeds.